Lay Lake Fishing
A 12,000-acre reservoir in Shelby County and 4 other counties.
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Lay Lake at first glance for Alabama anglers
Spread over 12,000 acres in Shelby County and 4 other counties, Lay Lake is a reservoir ADCNR manages for anglers. The dam is operated by Alabama Power. Groceries and fuel are nearest in Fayetteville, about 2 miles off.
ADCNR maintains 7 public ramps that reach it. Shore fishing comes from 5 bank sites ADCNR maps. It falls in ADCNR Fisheries District II.
ADCNR acreage (ADCNR page); operator and kind from the ADCNR reservoir program and dam owner listings; Census 2023 places.
From the ADCNR page for Lay Lake
ADCNR biologists wrote:
Lay Lake is a 12,000-acre reservoir located thirty-five minutes south of Birmingham off I-65 and fifteen miles south of Columbiana in east-central Alabama. Lay Lake borders St. Clair, Talladega, Shelby, Coosa, and Chilton counties. The primary uses for this reservoir are hydroelectric generation and recreation. Lay Lake is popular for tournament fishing and boating recreation. Seven public access areas offer bank and boat access to the lake.
Since being impounded in 1914 by the Alabama Power Company, Lay Lake is best known for its spotted bass and largemouth bass fishing. A high quality largemouth bass and spotted bass fishery exists at Lay Reservoir. Largemouth bass up to 18-inches are abundant and with moderate numbers of larger bass. Spotted bass up to 18-inches are very abundant with moderate numbers of larger fish. The best fishing for largemouth bass occurs in creeks and shallow water sloughs. Anglers targeting spotted bass should fish riverine portions of the lake.
Crappie 9- to 12-inches are moderately abundant and are found throughout the lake associated with woody cover and weed beds. Bream fishing is also very popular in Lay Lake. Bream offer a good summer fishery in creeks with woody cover and around weed beds. The best fishing for crappie and bream occurs in creeks and shallow water sloughs.
ADCNR page for Lay Lake, quoted, outdooralabama.com, read November 1, 2026.
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The species for Lay Lake come from ADCNR and the state record book.
ADCNR reservoir and state lake pages, Alabama state record lists; read November 1, 2026.
Ramps for boaters headed to Lay Lake
- Beeswax Creek boat ramp on Lay Lake4 lanes, 2 docks, 155 trailer spaces, lights, restrooms, ADA access, paved parking
- Childersburg Access (Hollywood) on Lay Lake2 lanes, 1 dock, 39 trailer spaces, lights, ADA access, paved parking
- Flatlands (Pineview) boat ramp on Lay Lake2 lanes, 3 docks, 38 trailer spaces, lights, restrooms, ADA access, paved parking
- Glover's Ferry boat ramp on Lay Lake1 lane, 29 trailer spaces, lights, paved parking
- Hidden Valley (Paint Creek) boat ramp on Lay Lake1 lane, 1 dock, 10 trailer spaces
- Kelly Creek boat ramp on Lay Lake1 lane, 32 trailer spaces, paved parking
- The Narrows (Co. Rd. 400) boat ramp on Lay Lake1 lane, 1 dock, 44 trailer spaces, lights, paved parking
No boat needed at Lay Lake
- Lay Dam boat rampfishing pier, ADCNR
- Beeswax Creek Park on Lay Lakefishing pier, ADCNR
- Logan Martin Tailrace on Lay Lakefishing pier, Alabama Power Company
- Hollywood Ramp on Lay Lakefishing pier, ADCNR
- Gorman Park on Lay Lakefishing pier, City of Vincent
ADCNR WFF public boat ramp list (list), read November 1, 2026; ADCNR fish-from-the-bank map (outdooralabama.com), read November 1, 2026.
Statewide rows and exceptions at Lay Lake
| Species | Daily limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bass | 10 a day | open all year |
| Walleye | 2 a day | open all year |
| Sauger | 5 a day; 15 inches TL minimum | open all year |
| White Bass | 15 a day | open all year |
| Yellow Bass | 15 a day | open all year |
| Saltwater Striped Bass and Hybrids or Combinations | 15 a day | open all year |
| Crappie | 30 a day; 9 inches TL (exemptions apply) minimum | open all year |
| Yellow Perch | No daily limit | open all year |
| Catfish (under 34 inches) | No daily limit | open all year |
| Catfish (over 34 inches) | 1 a day | open all year |
| Bream | 50 a day | open all year |
| Rainbow Trout | 5 a day | open all year |
| Alligator Gar | 1 a day | open all year |
| Sturgeon | Closed Season | Closed season (immediate release) |
| Paddlefish or Spoonbill | Closed Season | Closed season (immediate release) |
| Skipjack Herring | 50 a day | open all year |
The statewide freshwater rows apply on Lay Lake except where an exception below says otherwise.
Freshwater anglers need an Alabama fishing license from 16 on ($17.45 resident, $68.20 nonresident for 2026-27); residents 65 and older are exempt.
Limits as printed in the Official 2026-2027 Alabama Hunting and Fishing Digest (ADCNR, eRegulations edition) (limits page; digest PDF), read November 1, 2026.
Competitive fishing on Lay Lake
The Lay Lake tournament page collects organizer schedules and results.
Lay Lake and its nearest neighbours, side by side
Size leader in the table: Mitchell Lake, around 10,856 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Kind | ADCNR ramps | Bank sites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lay Lake | 12,000 | reservoir | 7 | 5 | |
| Tallaseehatchee Watershed Number 1 | 16 miles east | 136 | lake | 0 | 1 |
| Lunker Lake | 18 miles northwest | 91 | lake | 0 | 1 |
| Oak Mountain Lake | 18 miles northwest | 76 | lake | 0 | 1 |
| Double Oak Lake | 19 miles northwest | 61 | lake | 0 | 1 |
| Mitchell Lake | 21 miles south | 10,856 | reservoir | 1 | 5 |
Acres from ADCNR pages where printed, else NHD outlines; ADCNR ramp list and bank map; read November 1, 2026.
Shops, rooms and water close to Lay Lake
More Alabama lakes near Lay Lake
- Tallaseehatchee Watershed Number 116 miles east
- Lunker Lake18 miles northwest
- Oak Mountain Lake18 miles northwest
- Double Oak Lake19 miles northwest
- Mitchell Lake21 miles south
Buying bait for Lay Lake
- Paradise Point Marina & RV Resortmarina, Columbiana, 3 miles
- Sunset Point Marinamarina, Sylacauga, 4 miles
- Davis Bait Cobait and tackle shop, Childersburg, 8 miles
- Bozo's Fish Campmarina, Shelby, 9 miles
- Lacoosa Marinamarina, Shelby, 9 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Birminghamsporting goods store, Birmingham, 19 miles
Charter and guide names for Lay Lake
- Hog Wild Crappie Guidefishing guide
- River Region Guide Service, Inc.fishing guide, Millbrook
- Southern Scales Guide Servicefishing guide
Alabama towns with rooms near Lay Lake
- Wilsonville3 miles
- Columbiana8 miles
- Harpersville9 miles
Alabama county pages covering Lay Lake
- Shelby Countyseat: Columbiana
- Talladega Countyseat: Talladega
- Coosa Countyseat: Rockford
- Chilton Countyseat: Clanton
- St. Clair Countyseat: Ashville
Piscifun reels a Yellowhammer State angler might load for Lay Lake
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
A picture guide to fish at Lay Lake
Photo: robposse, CC BY 2.0
Photo: schizoform, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
Lay Lake, the common questions settled
What part of Alabama holds Lay Lake?
Its home is Shelby County and 4 other counties, about 2 miles from Fayetteville.
Does Lay Lake count as big water in Alabama?
The ADCNR count is 12,000 acres.
Can I trailer a bass boat to Lay Lake?
ADCNR lists 7 public ramps; Beeswax Creek boat ramp on Lay Lake is one.
Which gamefish have a source at Lay Lake?
ADCNR and the records list largemouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass, hybrid striped bass, black crappie, channel catfish and bluegill.
How many black bass may an Alabama angler take home from Lay Lake?
Black Bass: 10 a day.
Which ADCNR license covers Lay Lake?
Freshwater anglers need an Alabama fishing license from 16 on ($17.45 resident, $68.20 nonresident for 2026-27); residents 65 and older are exempt.
Where can an angler on foot reach Lay Lake?
Start at Lay Dam boat ramp; ADCNR maps 5 bank sites.
Is there a bait shop on the way to Lay Lake?
Our list starts with Paradise Point Marina & RV Resort, about 3 miles away,.
Take the county roads to Lay Lake
Fees, exceptions and border rules are on the license page.